Monday 14 August 2017

Airbus declares that all Tiger combat helicopters are unsafe


T.Wiegold August 10, 2017 ·

After the crash of a Tiger combat helicopter of the Bundeswehr in Mali on July 26,  the manufacturer company Airbus Helicopters issued a safety warning to all users of this helicopter type, which was supplemented on (today) Thursday again. In this, as a precaution, all variants of the helicopter used by the French, Spanish and Australian armed forces are declared insecure.

Although the company was not involved in the investigation of the accident and did not have any information that went beyond the Bundeswehr's first examination results, Airbus Helicopters explained in the Tiger Safety Warning TSW_AHT_2017_002 , eyes straight ahead! is present. Yet:

Airbus Helicopters declares to UNSAFE condition for all Tiger versions. AH can neither identify the part, the failure of which would lead to the accident, nor the origin of the failure (design, manufacturing, maintenance). Consequently, AH is not in the position to propose a protective measure.

The General Flugsicherheit of the German Armed Forces had reported the first findings on Tuesday, but they continue to provide no information about the cause of the accident. These findings were also communicated to the Defense Committee of the Bundestag . However, the Bundeswehr report mentions a detail that is missing in the letter to the deputies: What is described thus, which the aircraft surprisingly radically lowered its nose, has formulated the General Flugsicherheit more drastically: when the aircraft drove the nose by 90 degrees and A steep descent began - that is, actually downwards. That all rotor blades were separated from the engine had been a result of this rapid descent.

From the four user nations of the tiger, keeping information straight from eyes! So far only Spain all machines on the ground. The tigers in France and Australia do not use routine flights, but they start with training flights, which are necessary for the maintenance of skills or to prepare for a mission. Germany does not allow all helicopters of this type to start in principle, but in the case of danger to life and limb, for example, in a fighting situation in Mali.


Supplement from the Federal Press Conference on 11 August: I asked the deputy spokesman of the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Boris Nannt, why the company is not directly involved in the investigation:

Transcript of Audios:

Q: I have a question to the Ministry of Defense on the "Tiger" Crash in Mali. Airbus yesterday issued a safety warning for the "Tiger" and declared all "Tiger" versions for "condition unsafe". At the same time, Airbus also let - or is part of the safety warning - that Airbus is not involved in the investigations. Why is that?

Named: We are concerned with doing everything to elucidate the causes of this terrible disaster. In the case of the "Tiger" combat helicopter, the industry has already offered its support. Of course we will also use them. I know that Airbus has already delivered insights into technical issues over the past few days. They are also included in the investigation. If we have any questions, we are approaching Airbus. I know that General Air Safety is already in touch and also in dialogue with Airbus to do everything possible to resolve the disaster. My point is that you are in dialogue. We lead the investigations; That is our responsibility. We will involve Airbus on the industry as needed.

Additional question: Just so I understand this correctly: Why is not a representative of the manufacturer company part of the investigation group, the investigation team or whatever one calls it?

Named: This is basically not planned by the process. We are the one who is responsible there. But, of course, we get the insights from Airbus or from other industrial companies, if there are any incidents to do anything to clarify this.

(Archive image: A French patrol, watched from the air by a Tiger combat helicopter, in October in the north of Mali - French Ministry of Defense)


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